Letters to the editor 8/28

Dutchess should not just be bedroom community

Choices, first, need to be made with information about a situation.

Infants are carried as long as needed. Most children get to school by bus or with a parent who drives them.

In some cases the location of the school is within safe walking distance. Without designated alternatives, getting to a school, a job, or medical attention in a community without needed transportation is a "form of starvation" for the county's economy.

The suburban mentality has its downside; it deprives some of the residents of those basic comforts of daily living. Dutchess County should not only be a "bedroom" community for the 40,000 commuters who, for a variety of reasons, leave daily to the surrounding areas.

Communities need to think about how they integrate generations. Offer seniors and non-drivers more flexible days for shopping, etc. They may not feel well enough on the days allocated by Dial-a-Ride.

Incentives are needed for the young to be part of the growth and development for their own future in Dutchess.

Our representatives and residents are the ones to make plans in Dutchess County. A concerted effort is needed by all of us to make productive improvements happen now and for the benefit of the future.

Evelyn Barosin

LaGrange

Rhinebeck requires experienced leaders

Economic conditions are improving slowly, but towns in New York and elsewhere are still suffering the aftereffects of George W. Bush's "Great Recession," with cutbacks in funding from the state and federal governments.

To me, that means we need steady, mature, experienced hands at the helm in Rhinebeck and other towns holding elections this year. And that is exactly what the team of Elizabeth Spinzia, Joe Gelb and Elaine Fernandez is offering voters in November.

Elizabeth, running for town supervisor, came to Rhinebeck seven years ago after a successful career as a television producer and was elected to the board in 2011. Among her responsibilities, she oversees liaison with the Highway Department headed by the incomparable Kathy Kinsella.

Joe, elected in 2009, has lived in Rhinebeck since 1982 and brings 40 years of legal experience to bear on a myriad of local problems. He is also a director of Winnakee Land Trust and a lifetime trustee of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

Elaine, a Rhinebeck native, is a political science graduate of Bard who serves as director of human services for state Sen. Terry Gipson - a vital connection at a time when funding and legislation from the state play a crucial role in Rhinebeck and other communities.

As for Kathy, our long-serving highway superintendent, she is admired throughout the state and beyond.

To my fellow Rhinebeck voters, I add only: Please don't entrust our local government to inexperienced hands at such an important time.

Jeffrey Antevil

Rhinebeck

Hickman would continue to serve East Fishkill well

As fall approaches, we all need to give serious consideration to who we elect to town and county offices on Nov. 5.

Here in East Fishkill, I strongly encourage all voters to support current Town Supervisor John Hickman and his Republican team of Town Clerk Carol Hurray, Highway Superintendent Dennis Miller, and Town Board candidates, Bill Dahncke and Tom Franco.

John Hickman and his team have done an excellent job managing the town's spending and taxes. In fact, unlike every other level of government that I know of, their town budget for 2013 actually spends 4 percent less than the 2012 town budget!

But this is nothing new. Year after year, they have consistently produced well thought out and well managed town budgets that keep our town property taxes low, while still providing an outstanding level of highway, police, recreation and other public services.

East Fishkill is a great place to live and we are fortunate to have such conscientious and hardworking elected officials doing their very best to keep it that way.

If you want East Fishkill to continue being a great place to live, please vote for John Hickman and his Republican team on Nov. 5.